Bill Text: HI HB975 | 2018 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To Economic Development.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2018-04-04 - The committee(s) on WAM deleted the measure from the public hearing on 04-05-18 10:15AM in conference room 211. [HB975 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2018-HB975-Amended.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
975 |
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TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
S.D. 1 |
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PROPOSED |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
PART I
SECTION 1. This part shall be known and may be cited as the Hawaiian International Economic and Investment Leadership Act.
SECTION 2. The legislature finds that economic globalization, which is the increasing economic integration and interdependence of national, state, and local economies, is occurring by way of increasing trade in goods and services, the sharing and growth of technology and capital, and increasing cross-border investment. In order to achieve a successful economic future, the State must inevitably compete in the global economy by promoting Hawaii exports overseas and attracting more foreign direct investment.
Hawaii's economic competitiveness and investment are vital to the short- and long-term growth of the State's economy, as well as the employment and welfare of Hawaii's citizens. Attraction of foreign direct investment to the State creates local jobs and supports local economic growth. The legislature also finds that a partnership that includes economic development organizations, the private sector, academia, and government agencies is the best way to realize the State's full economic potential.
The purpose of this part is to create an advisory council for global economic competitiveness to advise the director of business, economic development, and tourism and other state officials on policy additions and changes to help attract more foreign direct investment and increase Hawaii exports abroad.
SECTION 3. Chapter 201, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new part to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"Part . ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR GLOBAL ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS
§201- Definitions. As used in this part:
"Council" means the advisory council for global economic competitiveness.
"Economic development organization" means an organization, such as a chamber of commerce, whose mission is centrally or primarily focused on:
(1) Increasing economic growth or business investment; or
(2) Attraction potential or retention,
for an area within the State, including a neighborhood, city, county, metropolitan area or region, or for the State as a whole.
§201- Advisory council for global economic competitiveness; membership; annual report. (a) There is established within the department of business, economic development, and tourism for administrative purposes the advisory council for global economic competitiveness. The council shall review existing state laws and propose recommendations to enhance the State's business and investment global competitiveness to grow exports and attract inward foreign direct investment.
(b) The council shall be composed of no fewer than fifteen members. The governor and the director of business, economic development, and tourism shall serve as ex officio members of the council. The other members of the council shall be appointed by the governor, without regard to section 26-34, and shall serve for terms of two years, with reappointments made at the option of the governor. Appointed members of the council shall include:
(1) Executives from at least two United States subsidiaries of foreign-headquartered businesses operating in the State;
(2) Executives from at least two United States-based businesses headquartered outside of the State but operating in the State;
(3) Representatives from at least two economic development organizations located in the State;
(4) At least one faculty member from an institution of higher education located in the State;
(5) At least one economist; and
(6) Other representatives from the private sector or public sector who are positioned to provide valuable feedback.
(c) The members of the council shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for reasonable expenses, including travel expenses and a per diem in lieu of subsistence while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of their duties on the council.
(d) The council shall be co-chaired by:
(1) The director of business, economic development, and tourism; and
(2) A member of the council, aside from the governor, who is elected by a majority of the council or, during a vacancy before the next meeting of the council, appointed in the interim by the governor.
(e) The council shall:
(1) Meet no fewer than three times each year;
(2) Provide advice to the director of business, economic development, and tourism as well as the heads of the economic regulatory agencies of the State; and
(3) Facilitate coordination among the State's economic regulatory agencies and identify areas of potential for increased cooperation.
(f) The council shall submit an annual report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session. The annual report shall promote a comprehensive economic development strategy for the State, including:
(1) An identification of economic sectors valuable to the State's growth in the global economy, accounting for both export and inward foreign direct investment opportunities;
(2) A determination of what state-level policies are needed to help the economic sectors identified in paragraph (1) grow and succeed, including:
(A) Infrastructure needs;
(B) Workforce training programs;
(C) Education reforms;
(D) Licensing and permitting support;
(E) Site-selection help;
(F) Financing assistance; and
(G) Other areas of state support deemed important to help these economic sectors grow;
(3) Recommendations on enhancing and developing state-level policies to increase state exports;
(4) Recommendations for developing and enhancing policies to attract and retain foreign direct investment in the State;
(5) An identification of existing regulations or executive orders in need of reform to carry out the policies identified in this section; and
(6) Any other tasks or ideas that the council deems appropriate to recommend or promote.
The director of business, economic development, and tourism shall be responsible for drafting and publishing the annual report.
(g) The council shall promote its annual report on state websites operated, maintained, or developed by the department of business, economic development, and tourism, as well as any other websites deemed by the governor to be useful in promoting the council's work.
(h) The council shall transmit its annual report to the chairs and members of any legislative committees or interim state legislative committees with relevant jurisdictions to implement any policy recommendations within the annual report."
PART II
SECTION 4. The legislature finds that the State is in critical need of regional economic plans to provide jobs in urban and rural areas in each county. The majority of the State's residents still live and work in separate regions. According to the Commuter Adjusted Daytime Population Analysis published by the department of business, economic development, and tourism, there are only a handful of areas in the State in which a majority of the population lives and works in that same area. In particular, on Oahu, the State's most populous island, the only areas in which a majority of the population lives and works in the same area are urban Honolulu and around certain military bases. The State should therefore, to the best of its ability, seek to provide jobs and job opportunities in all urban and rural areas of the State.
The legislature further finds that although Hawaii has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation, many existing jobs are lower wage jobs in the visitor industry. Moreover, high housing costs and the high cost of living are outpacing wages. In addition, there are not enough job opportunities in the State for high-wage, skilled workers. Consequently, the United States Census Bureau recently found that there are thirty-seven more people per day who are moving out of Hawaii than are moving into the State.
Accordingly, the purpose of this part is to require the department of business, economic development, and tourism to develop regional economic plans for each county based on the boundaries of the development or community plans in each county, including working with the department of education and the University of Hawaii to provide K-12 career pathways in each school to match the State's specific industry needs.
SECTION 5. Chapter 201, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§201- Regional economic plans. (a) The department shall develop regional economic plans to provide jobs in urban and rural areas of each county based on the development or community boundaries of each respective county.
(b) The department shall work with the department of education and the University of Hawaii to develop and provide K‑12 career pathways in each school that emphasize skills necessary to meet the State's specific industry needs."
SECTION 6. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Report Title:
DBEDT; Economic Development; Global Competitiveness; Foreign Direct Investment; Exports; Advisory Council; Regional Economic Plans
Description:
Creates an Advisory Council for Global Economic Competitiveness to be attached to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Directs the council to recommend policy additions and changes to attract more foreign direct investment and increase state exports abroad. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to develop regional economic plans for each county to provide jobs in urban and rural areas of each county based on the development or community boundaries of each respective county. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to work with the Department of Education and the University of Hawaii to develop K-12 career pathways for each school that emphasize skills necessary to meet the State's specific industry needs. (SD1 Proposed)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
